Bad experience buying an iPhone with Apple Gift Card + credit card
Sharing my recent experience in case anyone is considering using an Apple Gift Card toward an iPhone purchase.
I went to a couple of Apple Stores to purchase an iPhone using a combination of an Apple Gift Card and a credit card. The stores couldn’t process the order and asked me to place it online instead.
I tried ordering online multiple times, but kept getting payment authorization failures. I tried using 3 different credit cards and debit cards but had the same issue. I contacted Apple Support and spoke with a couple of specialists. One told me there was an Apple-wide issue happening, while another said that splitting the payment between a gift card and credit card wasn’t possible.
I eventually asked to speak with someone senior. A ticket was created—make sure you note down the representative’s name and the ticket number.
Two days later, I received an email saying my account had been updated and that I could place the order. I placed the order the same day.
However, it still took 5 days for the gift card payments to clear, and my iPhone wasn’t shipped until the 7th day.
Overall, this was a very frustrating and unpleasant experience. I personally would not recommend buying Apple Gift Cards if you’re planning to use them toward a major purchase like an iPhone, especially if you’re expecting a smooth checkout experience.
Hopefully this helps someone avoid the headache I went through.